No, I’m not ridiculously early with my festive greetings, I mean happy new church year. Advent marks the start of the church year and we cycle back to year C in the readings. With that in mind, I have some useful lectionary resources for those of you who need such things, and a load of … More Happy New Year!
There’s a line in Psalm 16 that I underlined in the very first Bible I ever had, when I was a new baby Christian way back in the 1980s. It still strikes a chord today: The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a goodly inheritance. (Ps 16:6) It’s referring … More A Goodly Inheritance
Job 42:1-6, 10-17 What do we say when things go wrong? When, despite all the fervent prayers, the diagnosis is cancer, your son does not come home, the baby doesn’t make it? “God works out everything for good,” some say. Really? Try telling that to the folks in Ukraine or Gaza, or that entire family … More When words are too much.
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” Job 38:1-7, (34-41) Take a brief look at social media and we’ll find plenty of words without knowledge – disinformation is the plague of our modern age. Sometimes, this is merely annoying: my youngest was in McD’s yesterday and got Regent St on her Monopoly … More Words without Knowledge
Wildflower Paper Here’s a lovely activity for autumn or spring, perfect for a Harvest Festival, Hallowe’en light party, Messy Church or Easter garden party. Also perfect for the parable of the mustard seed, the sower and the soils, that bit about Apollos watered but God made it grow, wheat and tares, the reapers overtaking the … More Sowing the Seed
A horse walks into a bar. The landlord says, “You’re in here a lot. Are you sure you’re not an alcoholic?” The horse ponders for a moment and replies, “I don’t think I am.” Poof! The horse vanishes. At this point you might smile because you know the famous postulate, ‘I think, therefore I am.’ … More Glasses at the ready – Prov 31
Isa 35, Jas 2 and Ps 146 Unless your name is Inigo Montoya (“You killed my father. Prepare to die.”), vengeance is not a popular word in our culture. It brings forth images of blood feuds, savagery and gang-land violence. So when in our Isaiah 35 reading or Deuteronomy 32:35 (It is mine to avenge; … More Vengeance and a Dominionican
Promises, promises 2 Samuel 7:1-14a and Psalm 89:20-37, Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 23, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 One of the fun things I have on my messy desk is a bright turquoise, extendable, pointy finger. “Lovely,” you say, “but why are you telling me this?” Because it’s a useful metaphor for this week’s Bible … More Promises, promises
Sometimes, things really stink – no, that’s not a commentary on the recent UK elections (I’m writing this at five-to-close-of-polls on election night). No, it’s a reflection on the beheading of John in Mark 6:14-29. (Click link above for reflection and an activity to think about cleansing.) Whether you are jumping with joy at the … More Mark 6 – When Tragedy Strikes (&Ephesians 1)
As I write this, the UK is one week from a General Election. Very shortly, a new (almost certainly, Labour) government will be fluffing its petticoats, trying to look like it knows what it’s doing, despite the majority of cabinet members having no experience of the job. That’s not a party-political statement; it’s true of … More 2 Samuel 5 – Election Special
The Reflectionary 